Key Account Manager

Retail and Distribution | Hunter Role

Why this role exists

A fast-growing provider of products and services to the retail and distribution markets is hiring several Key Account Managers to own regional accounts and drive new business acquisition. This is a true hunter role: you’ll open doors, create demand, and win new accounts while expanding share with existing customers.

What you’ll do

• Win new accounts through cold calling, prospecting, and in-person/virtual customer meetings
• Identify market opportunities by uncovering customer pain points and positioning tailored solutions
• Spend ~80% of your time growing core product categories and service offerings
• Build executive-level relationships and manage the full sales cycle from first contact to close
• Prepare and present proposals including pricing and product/service terms
• Negotiate and close deals with a balance of customer value and company profitability
• Partner with operations and product management to ensure solutions are deliverable and scalable
• Maintain accurate pipeline activity and forecasting by updating the CRM consistently
• Track and report key performance indicators and progress within the sales cycle
• Resolve issues quickly, pulling in SMEs and decision makers to remove obstacles
• Provide ongoing account support to ensure customer satisfaction and retention
• Indirectly coordinate with an inside sales team and customer service team aligned to your market
• Support market growth strategy and contribute meaningful input to the annual budgeting process
• Represent the organization professionally in the community and industry

What they’re looking for

• BA/BS degree strongly preferred
• 3+ years in an inside/outside sales role with proven field selling experience and frequent customer contact
• Retail industry knowledge is a plus (retail, distribution, fixtures, store operations, or related)
• Strong communication skills with negotiation and conflict resolution ability
• Comfortable working independently with minimal supervision
• Highly organized with strong planning skills, able to multitask and prioritize
• Flexible, proactive, and steady under pressure when priorities shift
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Solid understanding of CRM and pipeline management
• Ability to learn and navigate an ERP system (review/extract data, enter/update information)
• 50% travel (as needed)

What success looks like

• You consistently create qualified opportunities through outbound prospecting
• You build a healthy pipeline and keep it clean, accurate, and moving
• You close new accounts and expand product and service penetration in your territory
• You collaborate well internally and remove friction for customers

Interested?

Reply with your resume and a quick note on:

• Your experience selling into retail or distribution
• Your comfort level with cold prospecting and 50%+ travel
• The biggest deal you’ve hunted and closed in the last 12 months